ICYMI: Latino Democratic Leaders Champion A Unifying Message on Immigration
As the GOP continues investing millions in anti-immigrant voter outreach, Democratic lawmakers are touting popular and balanced solutions on immigration at the DNC
CHICAGO, IL – This week at the Democratic National Convention, Democratic leaders including Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Representatives Veronica Escobar (D-TX) and Pete Aguilar (D-CA), and Senate candidate Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) emphasized the need for Democrats to champion a popular, balanced approach to immigration reform–one that combines border security with paths to citizenship, including Dreamers and other long-settled undocumented communities.
At an Axios event on Tuesday, Latino lawmakers Rep. Escobar and Senator Padilla underscored that while it is ultimately the responsibility of Congress to pass immigration reform, the Biden-Harris administration has led on efforts to keep families together. On the DNC stage, Vice Chair Rep. Pete Aguilar, the highest ranking Latino in Congress, touted the Biden-Harris administration’s latest executive action–supported by 59% of voters– that provides pathways to citizenship for undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens.
Democratic lawmakers at the convention highlighted how the approach is not only pragmatic policy but politically advantageous ahead of November. Polls show the broad majority of voters overwhelmingly (66%) support a balanced approach and remain staunchly opposed to Donald Trump’s cruel immigration policies, such as mass deportations and family separation. In particular, the messaging resonates with Latino voters who, according to recent polling data, are likely to further increase their enthusiasm for Democrats when made aware of their record and vision on the issue.
Key Quotes:
Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA): “There’s millions upon millions of long-term residents of the U.S. that happen to be undocumented. They’ve been here for years, in some cases decades, contributing to the strength of our communities and our country. A pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, for farmworkers, for essential workers, has to be part of the conversation. The choice this November is clear. Under Donald Trump, what will we get? Dictator on day one, mass detention, mass deportations. What does that mean? Chaos in our communities, fear, and damage to our economy. Under Kamala Harris, not just a smart approach to the border, but justice for undocumented immigrants.”
Representative Pete Aguilar (D-CA): “All he knows is chaos and division. He talks about tearing American families apart, pitting neighbor against neighbor, community against community. Compare that to what Kamala Harris has done as Vice President: almost half a million people who live here and are married to a citizen can now apply for lawful permanent residence, DACA recipients who graduated college have easier access to work visas.”
Representative Veronica Escobar (D-TX): “The situation at the border is complicated: as filled with opportunity as it is with challenges. All Republicans have to offer is demonization and bluster. Democrats have solutions. With Kamala Harris as President, we can live up to the promise of America. We can strengthen legal pathways to immigration. We can secure our borders, and we can treat with dignity those that seek a better future within them.”
“In America, there are 8 million unfilled jobs today. We are a nation with an aging population, where families are not having babies at the same rate as their parents. We need immigrants. There are people who are fleeing their homeland, looking for a shot at being new Americans, adding to our GDP, growing businesses…Immigration policy is economic policy.” (x)
Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ): “You can be for [policies that make sure] we’re checking everything coming across the border and, at the same time, want Dreamers to be here and to become citizens. You can add more immigration judges and still want to keep and preserve the asylum system. You can want to rectify the fact that there are 10 million people living in this country, in the shadows, that have been here for decades. They have roots here, they have families here, they have businesses here… and say: I want them to be on a pathway to citizenship.”
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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.
